AN IMPORTANT PRIZE.; ARRIVAL OF THE IRON STEAMSHIP LA BUAN. Particulars of her Capture by the Portsmouth.

Published: March 1, 1862

The British steamship La Buan, of Hull, arrived at this port at an early hour yesterday morning, in charge of prize-officers GILBERT RICHMOND and SYDNEY S. BECK.

The La Buan is an iron steamer, 243 feet long and 28 feet beam. She was built in 1856 for Messrs. BAILEY & LEETHARN, of Hull, at a cost of £33,000, and has been employed In the Baltic trade, running between Cronstadt and Hull. In November she was chartered by the DEJERSEYS, of Manchester, for six months, to run between Havana and some part of the Southern coast. Her outward cargo consisted of various articles, among others a large quantity of blankets, and it is estimated that on this cargo the charterers cleared £40,000.

At the time she was captured by the Portsmouth,her position was a few miles to the northward of Brecca Chica, a small village near the Rio Grande. A steamer, loaded with cotton, was just inside the bar, watching an opportunity to come out and discharge, but as soon as the Portsmouth came to anchor she steamed up the River. The captain and supercargo were on shore and remained there, probably for prudential reasons. The La Buan was sent by Capt. SWARTWOUT, in charge of the above prize officers, to Ship Island, to receive Com. MCKEAN's orders, and was ordered by him to proceed to New-York. She has on board the cargo of schooner Wave, of New-Orleans, captured about an hour previous, while on her passage from New-Orleans for Matamoras, with a cargo of tobacco and cotton.

The La Buan is anchored in the North River.

A correspondent of the Fall River News furnishes the following particulars of the capture of the La Buan. Under date of Ship Island, Feb. 1, he writes:

"The sloop-of-war Portsmouth captured the English iron steamer La Buan, of Hull, England, at the mouth of the Rio Grande, loading with cotton. When the Portsmouth arrived there was a large lighter with 1,000 bales of cotton, laying alongside of the La Buan, and not liking the looks of the Portsmouth's French colors, (which were flying at the masthead as a decoy to get as near as possible,) and smelling a large-sized mice, she slipped her cables and run into shoal water where the Portsmouth could not reach her; and the iron steamer, being of very heavy draft, could not get any further up the river, so there she had to lay within reach of the Portsmouth's pivot guns, and at sundown all colors were lowered, and as soon as it became dark enough for the Portsmouth, to act, she hanled diarectly into and across the channel. She then lowered away her cutter and innned her with fifteen men, commanded by Capt. RICHMOND, and proceeded to the La Buan very quietly, boarded her, and inquired for the Captain. He was answered by the first officer that the Captain was ashore. Capt. RICHMOND then ordered the first officer to get up steam at once, which he refused to do. "Oh well," said Capt, RICHMOND, "never mind, I have men enough to do it and will save you the trouble." The mate then said, "Well, if I must get up steam I will; where do you want to take us?" "Oh not far, only down here under the Portsmouth's guns." She is a valuable prize.